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Bond 25: Boyle, distributor, and shooting schedule announced

By David Pegram

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 14: Director Danny Boyle attends a TriStar and Cinema Society screening of "T2 Trainspotting" at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 14, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 14: Director Danny Boyle attends a TriStar and Cinema Society screening of "T2 Trainspotting" at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 14, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) /
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Bond 25: EON Productions officially announced to the media that Danny Boyle will direct the 25th Bond film, from a script by John Hodge.

EON Productions has finally broken its silence. Today, the production team of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson officially announced to the media that Danny Boyle will direct the 25th Bond film, from a script by John Hodge. The film will begin shooting on December 3, 2018, with a release date of October 25 in the UK and the United States on November 8.

However, in an interesting development, EON also announced its distribution deal. MGM will release Bond 25 in the U,.S. in a joint venture with Annapurna Pictures. Universal will distribute the film worldwide.

Kevin Ulrich, MGM Chairman of the Board, said the following: “Under the leadership of Michael and Barbara, we couldn’t be more thrilled than to bring the next 007 adventure to the big screen uniting the incomparable Daniel Craig with the extraordinary vision of Danny Boyle.”

Universal Pictures’ chairman Donna Langley added, “Universal is extremely proud to collaborate with Michael, Barbara and MGM on the international marketing and distribution of Bond 25.”

Boyle is currently filming a Beatles-inspired musical, also set for release in fall of 2019. His film credits include Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire, for which he won an Oscar for Best Director. Boyle also directed A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach, 28 Days Later, 127 Hours, and Steve Jobs. However, Bond 25 will not be Boyle’s first foray into the world of 007. In 2012, he directed Daniel Craig, as James Bond, in the short film “Happy and Glorious” for the 2012 Olympic Games, held in London.

For writer John Hodge, this will be his first Bond script. He is a longtime collaborator with Boyle. He received a 1997 Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for Trainspotting.

Next: Bond 25 and the angst of uncertainty

Meanwhile, for upstart Annapurna Pictures, domestic distribution of Bond 25 is big move. Speculation of Annapurna’s involvement began last November, when the company announced a distribution partnership with MGM — though that announcement made no mention of Bond 25. Annapurna was founded in 2011 by Megan Ellison. Among the company’s releases are Zero Dark Thirty, American Hustle, Foxcatcher, Joy,  and Detroit.

Bond 25 will be Daniel Craig’s fifth film as James Bond.  Though he has stated it will also be his last, EON’s announcement did not confirm that.

This is a developing story. Check back for more news and updates.

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